Lighting assembly

Abstract

An elongate tubular lighting assembly having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends. The tubular lighting assembly has a source of illumination and first and second connectors respectively at the first and second body ends. The first connector has cooperating first and second parts having first and second surfaces. The first and second connector parts are configured so that the first and second surfaces are placed in confronting relationship to prevent separation of the first and second connector parts with the body in an operative state as an incident of the first connector part moving relative to the second connector part from a position fully separated from the second connector part in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A support connector for maintaining an end of a linear LED lamp in an operative state on a lighting fixture, the linear LED lamp having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends, a source of illumination comprising at least one LED emitter board on or within the body, and a first end connector at the first end of the body having an opening bounded by an edge, the support connector comprising:
 a first portion comprising an outer housing and including an integral mounting base configured to couple the support connector to a support of the lighting fixture; 
 a second portion extending from the first portion and configured to be insertable through the opening as an incident of the first end connector moving relative to the support connector from a position fully separated from the support connector in a path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position; 
 the second portion having first and second retractable parts on which respective second surfaces are defined, the second surfaces configured to engage corresponding first surfaces of the first end connector; 
 the retractable parts configured so that the second surfaces can be placed into confronting relationship with the first surfaces to prevent separation of the first end connector and the support connector with the second portion residing within the first end connector in the engaged position. 
 
     
     
       2. The support connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is configured so that the first end connector moves against the second portion as the first end connector moves toward the engaged position thereby causing the first and second retractable parts to reconfigure to allow the second surfaces to be placed into confronting relationship with the first surfaces. 
     
     
       3. The support connector according to  claim 2 , wherein the second portion has generally parallel first and second sidewalls, the first retractable part associated with the first sidewall and the second retractable part associated with the second sidewall, the second portion configured so that the first and second retractable parts: a) are each engaged by a portion of the edge of the opening and progressively cammed from a holding position, in which the first and second retractable parts reside with the first end connector in the fully separated position, towards an assembly position as the first end connector is moved towards the engaged position; and b) move from the assembly position back towards the holding position with the first end connector in the engaged position. 
     
     
       4. The support connector according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and second retractable parts are each joined to another part of the support connector part through a live hinge. 
     
     
       5. The support connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end connector has a wall through which the opening is formed, the first surfaces defined by the wall inner surface and being adjacent opposite ends of the opening, the wall having a third surface of its opposite side, and a fourth surface on the second portion of the support connector, the wall residing captively between the second and fourth surfaces with the first end connector in the engaged position. 
     
     
       6. The support connector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first actuator operatively coupled to the first retractable part and a second actuator operatively coupled to the second retractable part, the support connector configured so that with the first end connector part in the engaged position the actuators can be repositioned to thereby move the first and second retractable parts towards their respective assembly positions to allow the first end connector to be separated from the support connector. 
     
     
       7. The support connector to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is configured to cooperate with the edge of the opening to consistently align the second portion with the opening as the second portion is directed into the opening as the first end connector is moved from the fully separated position to the engaged position. 
     
     
       8. The support connector according to  claim 1 , further comprising conductive connector components extending within the first portion and the second portion and configured to be electrically connected with a power supply. 
     
     
       9. The support connector according to  claim 8 , wherein the conductive connector components are configured to be electrically connected to conductive components of the first end connector as an incident of the first end connector moving from the fully separated position into the engaged position. 
     
     
       10. The support connector according to  claim 8 , wherein the second portion further comprises third and fourth sidewalls extending between the first and second sidewalls, and a leading end wall extending between the sidewalls, the leading end wall defining a plurality of openings. 
     
     
       11. The support connector according to  claim 10 , wherein the openings are configured so that each opening receives a first portion of one of a plurality of conductive pins of the first end connector extending in a direction traverse to the length of the body and towards the support connector when said first end connector is moved towards the support connector and into the engaged position. 
     
     
       12. The support connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the conductive connector components each comprise a contact portion generally aligned with one of the openings and configured to engage at least part of the first portion of one of the conductive pins received through the opening with the first end connector and support connector in the engaged position. 
     
     
       13. The support connector according to  claim 8 , wherein the support connector is configured to be held together with the first end connector independently of the conductive connector components to thereby maintain the body in the operative state. 
     
     
       14. The support connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion has a reduced profile relative to the first portion. 
     
     
       15. The support connector according to  claim 14 , further comprising a shoulder portion at the juncture of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
       16. The support connector according to  claim 15 , wherein the first end connector has a wall through which the opening is formed, the first surfaces defined by the wall inner surface and being adjacent opposite ends of the opening, the wall having a third surface of its opposite side, and a fourth surface on the shoulder portion of the support connector, the wall residing captively between the second and fourth surfaces with the first end connector in the engaged position. 
     
     
       17. The support connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting base of the first portion comprises a flange, a lower facing surface of the flange engaging an upper facing surface of the lighting fixture support with the support connector coupled to the lighting fixture support. 
     
     
       18. The support connector according to  claim 1 , wherein first portion comprises first and second oppositely facing sidewalls and the mounting base comprises an externally facing slot in each sidewall adapted to engage an edge portion of an opening in the lighting fixture support. 
     
     
       19. The support connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the lighting fixture support comprises a reflector and the support connector is a component separate from the reflector and the support connector is configured to be press connected to the reflector.